CH09 (from author): how to plan for Y2K medical disruption?

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In a separate message thread ("Advance Warning Signals Recession", Dennis raised the question: "In the Business Section of the 31 Dec 1997 Chicago Tribune, Blue Cross and Blue Shield unexpectingly annouced it was dropping its Medicare processing contract, which it had held for almost 31 years. The "Blues" processed over $300 million in claims each month for Medicare. The Blues are the fifth Medicare fiscal intermediary to give up the claims business. Robert Kieckhefer, a spokesman for the Illinois Blues, said it decided drop its Medicare contract because it's a "low margin, high risk" enterprise. While y2k concerns were not mentioned, one has to wonder what is the high risk element involved in dealing with Medicare? "

The fundamental reason for this, I suspect, is that the Medicare claims processing system within the Federal government's Health & Human Services (HHS) agency is not compliant, and has been specifically noted as a risk area within the latest (Dec 20) Y2K status report as a risk area. (See the Chapter 10 section of discussion at http://www.yourdon.com/books/fallback/fallbackhome.html for more discussion of this, as well as a URL for the OMB report.)

So my question is: what plans should we all be making to cope with possible disruptions in hospitals, medicine, pharmaceuticals, etc.? Does anyone know of any good locations on the Internet for such things as (a) alternate sources of medicines, (b) shelf life of common pharmaceuticals and drugs? Are there any good "Medicine for Dummies" books or CD-ROMs that we should all get if we lose access to trained doctors or hospitals for a period of time?

-- Ed Yourdon (yourdon@sprintmail.com), December 31, 1997

Answers

I have glaucoma. I MUST have my eye medicine. I have multiple prescriptions spread out in several drug stores. These prescriptions are legal, written by doctors.

I am stockpiling as many years worth as I can.

-- rather not (rathernot@any.com), January 01, 1998.


The issue of what and how to prepare for medical needs has been a problem for my wife and I over a period of 15 years in the sense of attempting to be as self-sufficient as possible. My wife joined as a voluntary EMT for nearly 5 years and became very proficient in emergency treatment. This led to the next step and at age 49 she went to college and became an RN and is following this profession today. My brother had a kidney transplant and must have anti-reject- ion drugs, of which he has been able to only advance to three months on hand. His life expectancy at age 50 is two weeks if those drugs are unavailable. Sadly, we will only be able to provide comfort measures if that time comes. We have been working on gaining add- tional knowledge in the medical field with the purchase of books be- yond simple basic emergencies. Not easy. Will provide names of books if desired in another thread. Most attention, it would seem, is to become proficient in basic emergency treatment first.

-- Steve Alley (alley@uninets.net), January 01, 1998.

Possible answer--look for alternatives. That is what we are doing with all of our other fallback plans. I'm an ICU nurse--lots of very high tech life and death interventions every day. Lots of computer based and embedded system technology that probably won't matter after 45-60 days post y2k because hospitals will run out of cash and Medicare and other Fed based plans won't be able to pay the bills. Therefore, purchase any of several excellent encyclopedia-style books on herbal remedies, and learn to grow the herbs and prepare the tinctures, balms, etc. Also, check out rodalepress.com. They have some good stuff on aromatherapy and other "alternative" treatments. Some ancient native american cultures were able to successfully deal with all kinds of ailments with naturopathic remedies for several hundred years. Will will snatch away death with last minute high-tech saves post y2k? No. Can you live a healthful lifestyle consuming wholesome foods and praticing other healthy living and take care of ailments with natural remedies? Yes.

-- Philip Larson (ptrades@earthlink.net), January 05, 1998.

Quick newsflash --- MEDICARE will be assuming responsibility for payment of all claims beginning January 1, 2000. With infinate wisdom, our government has stipulated to BLUES, AETNA, and all computer hardware, software systems: Before you refer your files to MEDICARE on January 1, 2000, your system MUST be y2k complient. Cute Bill, real cute. Since all insurance companies will comply with our government's request, we can expect a smooth flow of payment. Especially since MEDICARE will be assuming payment on all submitted claims on January 1, 2000. Such timing ...

-- S. McDonald (clinton@infowest.com), January 06, 1998.

The verey best way to prepare for no medical service in 2000 is to start taking better care of your bodies. 90% of the food in the grocery store is non-nutritious food. In fact it is nothing but garbage. Starting now, fill up your grocery store basket with nothing but produce. This will totally illiminate your need to have a doctor. I had a heartattach in 1976 at age 40. That caused me to wake up and start eating more nutritious food. I have not been to a doctor for over 20 years, and I do not need a doctor. I don't even have a doctor! When our creator created us, he also created the food for us to have healthy bosdies. If you do not eat this food mostly in the raw state, you will start having all kinds of health problems. And then you make it worse by going to the doctor and take all kinds of drugs that all have side effects! Start eating more fresh, raw food and you will eliminate the doctor out of your life! I'm not stocking up on canned, bottled or boxed food for Y2K. I'm stocking up on dried fruit, all kinds of sprouting seeds, so I can make a fresh salad anytime, and also beans, rice, legumes, etc. Do you get the picture? When you change your food intake to fresh produce, you will cut your grocery bill right in HALF!!! Why don't you join me and say buy-buy to your doctor in 2000. May the force be with you in 2000!

-- Eddie Pons (ponski@soft-link.com), March 01, 1998.


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